Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC) has hired Robert (Bob) Haynes to be its new executive director, replacing Joan Goldstein, who is leaving GMEDC to become Vermont’s commissioner of economic development in late April. Goldstein served six years as executive director of GMEDC. Under her tenure the regional development corporation for Northern Windsor and Orange counties was able to diversify services with real estate investments, brownfields and flood recovery grants, and innovative workforce development projects and programs.
Peter Van Oot, chair of the GMEDC board said, “Although we were sad to lose Joan as GMEDC executive director, she has left GMEDC immeasurably better than she found it and we look forward to working closely with her in her new position. We are very excited to now have Bob on board at GMEDC. Bob has all of the character attributes as a resourceful, entrepreneurial, and energetic leader with great communication skills that we were looking for to move GMEDC’s mission forward.”
Haynes looks forward to leading GMEDC, “Joan Goldstein leaves big shoes to fill indeed, but will be great to work with as our new commissioner in Montpelier. I am humbled at being selected to follow Joan and excited about the opportunity to make a real difference in our region. As a long standing member and strong advocate of GMEDC, a resident for over 40 years and someone who likes to get involved, I am eager to begin; this is a dream job for a guy like me!”
Haynes lives in Norwich and is a graduate of Dartmouth College. For the past four years, he has been the director of business development at DEW Construction Corp. / MacMillan Construction. He was previously president / principal broker at R.E. Haynes Co., Inc. in Hanover, NH and has worked for many years in the real estate brokerage, construction and real estate development sectors. He is well known to many business owners, bankers, brokers, attorneys, town managers, planning commissioners and legislators throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
Haynes has been actively involved with numerous civic organizations in the Upper Valley including the Hanover Rotary Club, the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley, the Dartmouth Alumni Council, Upper Valley Rowing Foundation, Hanover Hockey Association, Norwich Lions Club, Community College of Vermont President’s Council and the Town of Washington, VT School Board.
GMEDC is the regional development corporation serving 30 towns in east central Vermont. Its mission is to foster economic vitality and prosperity consistent with the goals of the communities it serves.